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mess of
trouble was waiting for us.
    The Fae smiled at me, his silver
eyes glittering, but watching. Watching. “My pleasure, young Warrior,” he said.
Then he leaned close and whispered. “You just keep that sword handy,
understand?”
    I nodded. Yes, I understood.

 
     
    Alexa
    They will never accept you.
    The Lamia’s words to my sister
played over and over in my head. I sat in the chair by the window in my room
back in Silvia’s cottage, staring out at the dark night and running through the
events of the past hour. The clock had ticked onward into a new day, but the
memories of the past one haunted me, hung over me. I wondered how much longer I
would be made to go on like this.
    Nelly was sleeping on the large
bed in the middle of the room, and I felt a pang of envy that was so familiar
from my past life. This was how the song went, seemed that this would always be
how it went, as long as I remained in this world. Waiting to be attacked.
Waiting to attack. Running. Fighting. Hurting. In that moment it seemed to me
to be such a pitiful existence; an existence in vain. In that moment, death
seemed more like a warm invitation than a dark tunnel before me. I was so
damned tired, tired of it all.
    When a knock sounded on the door,
I expected Kayden, but instead it was Arrol standing there, shirtless, as
always. I leaned against the doorframe and offered him a smile that probably
looked more like a grimace. “Hey,” I said.
    The Fae gave a slow grin. “May I
come in?”
    I nodded and stepped aside so
that he could enter.
    “You look like you need a hug,”
he said.
    I laughed at this, surprised that
my vocal cords still remembered how to make the sound. “I’m good, thanks.”
    Arrol inclined his head. “Ah,
yes. Many a lady has been afraid to step into my arms for fear that they may
never want to leave them.”
    I resumed my seat by the window,
my mouth turned up a fraction. “Yes, that’s it,” I said. “I am no match for
your undeniable charm.”
    Arrol winked at me and went to
stand at the foot of the bed where Nelly was sleeping. He spoke staring down at
her. “I’m glad to see that you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”
    I snorted and leaned back in the
chair. “Me? I laugh in the face of danger. Ha. Ha. Ha.”
    The Fae’s silver eyes flicked to
me, and he tipped his head. “I do wish that you weren’t so…attached to that
Libra of yours. I think you and I would get on quite well.” His eyes went back
to my sister. “You are an exquisite creature, Sun Warrior, and your sister…”
    When he didn’t continue, I said,
“Is pretty damn cool, too?”
    Arrol laughed silkily, his long
silver hair rippling down his bare back. “Yes, pretty damn cool, as you say.”
    I sat up straight now. “And
you’re here to watch her? Because you think she may be dangerous , as
well as pretty damn cool?”
    He sighed and met my eyes. “This
is a dangerous world we live in, Warrior.”
    “No shit? I hadn’t noticed.”
    A level stare. “No shit…You sure
you don’t need a hug?”
    The door opened then, and Kayden
entered. “I’m sure Alexa is just fine,” he said, not as unkindly as I would
have expected. Arrol had a way about him that made it difficult to be rude to
him.
    “Ah, the Libra has arrived. I
don’t believe we’ve met properly. I am Arrol.” He extended a hand. “Pleasure to
meet you.”
    Kayden’s golden eyes studied the
Fae for a moment before reaching out and shaking his hand. “Kayden.”
    “Tell me Kayden, how does one win
the heart of a Sun Warrior?” Arrol’s silver eyes flashed me a smile. “They are
such difficult creatures to hang on to.”
    I held up a hand. “Uh, I’m right
here. Don’t talk about me like I’m not in the room. Is there something I can
help you with Arrol? It’s been a long night, and I’m grateful for all your
help, but…”
    Arrol waved a pale hand. “But get
on with it, right? I’m sure you two have some…frustrations to work out, so